A second draft of what could be the final agreement for the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP28) indicates that negotiators are exploring a call for a "structured and equitable" phase-out of fossil fuels. The UN climate body released the draft text that reflects the potential outcomes of the ongoing COP28 discussions in Dubai. The negotiations are part of the "global stocktake" process, wherein nearly 200 countries aim to agree on plans to curb rising global temperatures.
The first option proposed in the draft text is the "structured and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels." A second option calls for "accelerating efforts toward a phase-out of fossil fuels" without efforts to curb their emissions. The third option does not mention the phase-out of fossil fuels at all. Negotiators have yet to embark on finding a common vision for the future of fossil fuels, using the initial phase of talks to discuss options and pave the way for an agreement on what might be the most challenging issue.
The draft also includes an option for countries to agree on a "rapid phase-out of coal power," which is used without capturing carbon dioxide emissions, during the current decade. Additionally, it includes an immediate halt to the construction of new coal-fired power plants that emit carbon dioxide. However, there is a second option for this paragraph that does not mention the phase-out of coal at all.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stated to Bloomberg Television that his country "will never agree" to an agreement calling for the phased reduction of fossil fuels. David Wasko, director of the International Climate Initiative at the World Resources Institute, remarked that he does not believe there will be an outcome for COP28 that does not include a clear mandate to move away from global reliance on oil, gas, and coal. He added: "I don't think we will leave Dubai without clear language and guidance on the transition away from fossil fuels."
